Shree Kamalaambikayaa Kataakshitoham (Avarana 3 of Navavarana Krithis)

Ragam: Shankarabharanam (29th mela janyam)

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#allavi
Shree Kamalaambikayaa Kataakshitoham
Sa..hi/aanan/a #ari)(rna 0rahmaasmi
An()allavi
#aakashaasanaa/i Sakala $evataa Sevitayaa
#ankajaasana1aa/i)an.ha Kr(tya Kr(t 0haavitayaa
Shokahara *hat(ra #a/ayaa !ooka !(khya
&aak)ra/ayaa Kokana/a &ijaya #a/ayaa
(r(g(hatatrai)a/ayaa
*haranam
Ananga K(s(maa/yashta Shaktyaakaarayaa
Ar(navarna Samkshobhana *hakraakaarayaa
Anantakotyan/anaayaka Shankara Naayikayaa
Ashta &argaatmaka ()ta 'arayaa &arayaa
Anangaa $y()aasitayaa Asta/alaabjasthitayaa
$han(r 0aana/hara Karayaa $ayaa S(/haa Saagarayaa
!eaning (2rom 'o// !. *omb3s +eb )age:
htt):44+++,me/ieval,org4m(si.4+orl/4.arnati.4lyri.s4srao4kamala,html5
Original: 'K ovin/a Rao3s book):
Shri Kamalambika has cast Her gracious glance ("kata-akshi") on me ("to-aham"), and now I am
identified ("asmi") with the nature of Absolute ("paripurna") rahman ("brahma"), the fullness of
e!istence ("sat"), consciousness ("chit") and bliss ("ananda")"
Indra ("paaka-shaasana") and other ("aadi") celestials ("sakala de#ataa") attend ("se#ita$aa") on
Her"
She is adored ("bhaa#ita$aa") b$ rahma ("panka%a-asana") and others ("aadi") who perform the
&ancakrit$a, the fi#e ("pancha") cosmic acts ("krut")"
Her feet are adroit ("chatura") at remo#ing ("hara") grief ("shoka")"
She endowed ("prada$aa") the gift of speech ("#aak") in 'ooka and made him a Ka#i"
Her #ictorious ("#i%a$a") feet ("pada$aa") are like red lotus ("kokanada")"
She is the embodiment of the three-word ("trai-pada$aa") mantra (at-(#am-Asi imparted b$ )uruguha"
Her form ("aakaar$aa") is of eight ("ashta") Shaktis ("shkt$aa"), Anangakusuma and the rest"
She is the color ("#arna") of dawn, Aruna (i"e" red color)"
She is enshrined ("ara$aa") in the Samkshobhana *hakra"
She is the consort ("na$ika$aa") of Shankara, who is the +ord ("naa$aka") of innumerable uni#erses
("ananta-kot$ananda")"
She is of the nature ("aatmaka") of eternal and hidden ("gupta") Ashta#arga, the eight ("ashta")
groups ("#arga") of alphabets"
She is worshipful ("tara$aa #ara$aa"), seated ("sthita$aa") on an eight-petalled ("ashta-dala") lotus
("ab%a")"
She is worshiped ("d$upaasita$aa") b$ Ananga the *upid"
She holds ("dhara") in her hand ("kara$aa") a bow ("dhanur") and arrows ("baana")"
She is an embodiment ("saagara$aa") of the nectar ("sudha") of compassion ("da$aa")"
Notes from Sri $ikshita Kirtana !ala by Sri, A, S(n/aram 6yer:
3rd Avarana Keertanam:
,) (he following are the essence of the -rahman./
a" -Sath. is the e#erlasting imperishable 0ualit$
b" -*hith. is the re#ealer
c" -Anandam. manifests the en%o$ment"
1) All things in the uni#erse manifest the abo#e essential 0ualities"
2) Immo#able things re#eal the subsistence (-sath.) 0ualit$ in greater measure than other 0ualities"
'o#able things re#eal the knowledge (-chith.) 0ualit$ in greater measure than other 0ualities" (he
)ods re#eal the bliss (-anandam.) 0ualit$ in greater measure than other 0ualities"
3) (his 2
rd
a#arana is called Sar#a Samkshobana chakra (the agitator of e#er$thing)"
4) $ reciting this mantra ,4 lakh times, one shall achie#e
a" (rue wisdom
b" All auspicious things with the aid of Sri +alita 'ahatripurasundari
77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777
Thanks to Mrs. Janaki Krishnamoorthy for the following notes based upon KritiManiMaalai (Dikshitar
editition) by anga amanu!a "yengar and #antra by Madhu Khanna (Thames and $udson %imited&
'ublishers)
Sri *hakra8 A brief intro/(.tion
'he Saktam se.t of 9in/(ism a))roa.hes the 0rahman or Absol(e .ons.io(sness thro(gh the +orshi) of
Sri 'ri)(ra S(n/ari8 the S()reme !other, She is the so(r.e of all .reation, 6n 9er kno+le/ge as)e.t8 She is
.alle/ Sri &i/ya, 'he Sri :antram is the most .elebrate/ of all yantras an/ is em)loye/ in Sri &i/ya
;)asana, :antra an/ mantra together re)resent the (nion of s)a.e an/ so(n/, 'hey are inse)arable8 +ith
mantra being the so(l an/ yantra being the bo/y of S(btle So(n/ (Na/a 0rahman), :antras are geometri.
obje.ts (involving sha)es of triangle8 s<(ares an/ .ir.les) in either 2 or 3 /imensions,
'hey are (se/ as an ai/ in me/itation an/ in tantri. +orshi) )ra.ti.es, 6n most yantras for me/itation8 the
stages of )rogression from material or gross to s(btle are .learly marke/, *lose/8 .on.entri. .ir.(its
(man/alas) of vario(s geometri. sha)es .orres)on/ to the )lanes of .ons.io(sness of the sa/haka, =a.h
en.los(re is an as.ent of one>s being8 a +ay station8 to+ar/ the innermost8 the Absol(te ;nity,
'he Sri :antra is .om)ose/ of inter)enetrating triangles8 symboli?ing the (nity of Siva an/ Sakti,, 'he fo(r
()+ar/ )ointing triangles emanate from the Siva #rin.i)le an/ /enote the in/ivi/(al so(l an/ its vital
energies, 'he five /o+n+ar/ )ointing triangles re)resent the Sakti )rin.i)le an/ from them arise the five
material elements (#an.ha 0hootas8 earth8 +ater8 fire8 air an/ s)a.e), All the vo+els an/ .onsonants in
Sanskrit are ins.ribe/ in the verti.es of the Sri :antra, 'he Sri :antra also has nine .ir.(its (avaranas), 6n
ea.h of the en.los(res s)e.ifi. /eities are invoke/8 ea.h .ir.(it being .onsi/ere/ as a .osmologi.al form
+hi.h s())orts /evata1.l(sters8 or gro()s of go//esses, 'he /eity1.l(sters are like veils .on.ealing the
yantra>s innermost essen.e, After the sa/haka has invoke/ all the /evatas in the )res.ribe/ manner for
me/itation8 he rea.hes a level of .ons.io(sness in +hi.h all the /evata1.ir.les are f(se/ to be.ome the
)resi/ing /eity at the .enter of the yantra, ra/(ally8 this .entral /eity itself /isa))ears an/ merges into the
.enter of s)irit(al .ons.io(sness8 the 0in/( (the fo.al )oint or .enter) of the yantra an/ the highest )sy.hi.
.enter bet+een the a/e)t>s eyebro+s,
A s)irit(al jo(rney is taken as a )ilgrimage in +hi.h every ste) is an as.ent to the .enter8 a movement
beyon/ one>s limite/ e@isten.e, 'ra/itionally s(.h a jo(rney is ma))e/ in nine stages8 an/ ea.h of these
stages .orres)on/s +ith one of the nine .ir.(its of +hi.h the yantra is .om)ose/, Starting from the o(ter
s<(are an/ moving in+ar/s8 the nine rings bear s)e.ifi. names8 relate/ to their .hara.teristi.s,
(") 'he first Avaranam is 0hoo)(ram an/ the *hakram is 'railokyamohana .hakra Aen.hants the three
+orl/s>5'he yogini is #rakata8 the mental state of the as)irant is -agrata8 *hakra 6s+ari is 'ri)(ra an/ the
Saktis are 2B that in.l(/e the ten starting +ith Anima8 the eight starting +ith 0rahmya an/ the the ten
!(/ra Saktis, CA5A56A HAI7A8I/ Kamalamba SamrakshatuD
(2) 'he se.on/ Avaranam is Sho/asa $alam8 an/ the *hakram is Sarvasa)ari)(raka .hakra8 Af(lfills all
e@)e.tations>5 'he yogini is ()ta :ogini, 'he mental state is S+a)na8 the *hakra 6s+ari is 'ri)(rasi an/
the Saktis are the si@teen starting +ith Kamakarshini, CKA+9A5I/ Kamalambam ha%areD
(3) 'he thir/ Avaranam is Ashtha $alam5 'he *hakram is Sarvasamkshobana .hakra8 Aagitates all>5 the
:ogini is ()ta 'ara :ogini, 'he mental state is S(sh()ti8 the *hakra 6s+ari is 'ri)(ra S(n/ari an/ the
Saktis are the eight starting +ith Ananga K(s(ma, CSHA5KA7AHA7A5A'/ Shree Kamalaambika$aa
KataakshitohamD
(E) 'he fo(rth Avaranam is *hat(r/asaram5 the *hakram is Sarvasa(bhagya/ayaka .hakra8 Agrants
e@.ellen.e>5 the :ogini is Sam)ra/aya :ogini, 'he mental state is 6s+ara &i.haram8 *hakra 6s+ari is
'ri)(ra &asini an/ the Saktis are the fo(rteen starting +ith Samkshobhini, CKA':6HI/
Kamalaambikaa$ai Kanakamshukaa$aiD
(F) 'he fifth Avaranam is 0ahir/asaram5 the *hakram is Sarvarthasa/haka.hakra8 is the Aa..om)lisher of
all>5 the :ogini is K(lotteerna yogini, 'he mental state is (roo)a Sa/anam5 the *hakra 6s+ari is 'ri)(ra
Sri an/ the Saktis are the ten starting +ith Sarva Si//hi #ra/a, CHAI7A8I/ Shree Kamalaambikaa$aah
&aram 5ahireD
(G) 'he si@th Avaranam is Antar/asaram5 the *hakram is Sarvaraksakara .hakra8 A)rote.ts all>5 the :ogini is
Nigarbha :ogini, 'he mental state is ;)a/esam5 the *hakra 6s+ari is 'ri)(ra !alini an/ the Saktis are the
ten starting +ith Sarvagnya, C&;55A)A8A7A+I/ Kamalaambikaa$aasta#a haktoham<
(H) 'he Seventh Avaranam is Asthakonam5 the *hakram is Sarvarogahara .hakra8 A.(res all ills>5 the :ogini
is Rahasya :ogini, 'he mental state is !ananam5 the .hakra 6s+ari is 'ri)(ra Si//haa an/ the Saktis are
the eight8 starting +ith &ashini, CSAHA5A/ Shree Kamalaambikaa$aam haktim KaromiD
(B) 'he eighth Avaranam is 'rikonam5 the *hakram is Sarvasi//hi)ra/a .hakra8 Agrants all )erfe.tion>5 the
:ogini is Ati Rahasya :ogini, 'he mental state is Niti/hyasanam5 the *hakra 6s+ari is 'ri)(ramba an/ the
Saktis are the three starting +ith Kamesh+ari, C)HA5(A/ Shree Kamalaambike A#aa#aD
(9) 'he ninth Avaranam is the 0in/( an/ the highest *hakram is Sarvanan/amaya .hakra 8 Are)lete +ith
bliss>, 'he mental state is Savikal)a Sama/hi5 the *hakra 6s+ari is !aha 'ri)(ra S(n/ari an/ the Shakti is
!aha 'ri)(ra S(n/ai8 the very )ersonifi.ation of #ara 0rahman, CAHI7I/ Shree Kamalaambaa =a$atiD
At the )eri)hery of the Sri :antra8 the s<(are8 the a/e)t .ontem)lates his o+n )assions s(.h as anger8 fear8
l(st8 et.,8 to over.ome or .on<(er them, 'he eight )sy.hologi.al ten/en.ies that are .onsi/ere/ obsta.les of
the min/ are also invoke/8 as eight !atrika Saktis8 in the se.on/ line of the o(ter )eri)hery, =ither they
flank the fo(r A/oors> of the yantra or they are invoke/ in the s<(are ban/ (bh()(ra), enerally they are
+hat +e e@)erien.e of the +orl/ thro(gh sense1a.tivity an/ the .ravings of o(r egotism,
Note on Sri Kamalamba Nava Avarana Kritis
A s)irit(al as)irant nee/s to seek a g(r( an/ be initiate/ into the esoteri. )ra.ti.e of Sri &i/ya ;)asana,
'he )ra.ti.e itself re<(ires stri.t a/heren.e to lists of $o>s an/ $on>t>s, !ost )eo)le +o(l/ fin/ that the
task of fin/ing the g(r( an/ the rigors of the )ra.i.e are /iffi.(lt, Sri !(th(s+amy $ikshitar +as a great
$evi ;)asaka an/ +as +ell verse/ in all as)e.ts of Sri &i/ya ;)asana, O(t of his /evotion to Sri
Kamalamba8 (one of the GE Sakti #eethams in 6n/ia)8 the .elebrate/ /eity at the famo(s 'yagaraja 'em)le
in 'ir(var(r an/ his .om)assion for all bhaktas8 Sri !(th(s+amy $ikshitar .om)ose/ the the Kamalamba
Nava Avarana kritis8 e@)o(n/ing in ea.h of the nine kritis8 the /etails of the ea.h avarana of the Sri *hakra8
in.l(/ing the /evatas an/ the yoginis, Singing these kritis +ith /evotion8 sra//ha an/ (n/erstan/ing +o(l/
be the easy +ay to Sri &i/ya ;)asana for most )eo)le,
'he set also in.l(/es a /hyana kriti8 a mangala kriti an/ tra/itionally s(ng on the nine /ays of Navaratri,
One starts +ith the anasa kriti follo+e/ by the g(r( kriti (to Sri 0alaS(brahmanya) an/ .ontin(es +ith the
/hyana an/ ea.h of the avarana kritis, 'he ren/ering .on.l(/es +ith the mangalam kriti,